BBLF Puts education high on priorities list

More than 150 companies backed up the changes in the Bulgarian education system, as initiated by Finance Minister Milen Velchev, it transpired at the official business luncheon of the BBLF with Mr. Velchev and Education Minister Igor Damyanov on Sept. 21st, at the Sheraton.

"The BBLF appeals to the Government to set the reform in the educational system as its top priority," BBLF Chairman Mr. Maxim Behar said. "We would like to have far more prepared students or graduates coming to our offices in a very short time. This will be good both for us and for them, and at the end of the day it will be of benefit to Bulgaria."

Mr. Behar presented the two ministers with copies of a Statement composed on behalf of all BBLF members that stresses the most urgent measures Government needs to take in order to bring Bulgarian education back on the right track. Some of these are introducing an independent certification system for teachers and professor to assess their remuneration, compulsory internships for both high-school and university students, complete computerizing of all educational institutions, and more.

Special guests to the event were Mr. Pavel Ezekiev, Chairman of the InvestBulgaria Agency, Dr. Assen Dourmishev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Education Committee, and H.E. Jeremy Hill, HM Ambassador to Bulgaria. H.E. Hill also received a copy of the Statement, undertaking to hand it to HRH The Prince of Wales.

"It is in the discussion of this particular issue that we would like to have the whole society involved, but most importantly business - employers who have particular requirements and criteria to the skills and knowledge that work force must have in order to succeed. I know that it is exactly the people of business who can come forward with a specific action plan and help us achieve a full-blooded working partnership with the Government," said Finance Minister Milen Velchev in his address to the participants.

Some of the responsibilities that the Bulgarian business commits to undertake in their Statement to the Governmente are consistent investments in the education and training of their employees, providing internship opportunities to students, deeper cooperation with the universities training their potential employees, to mention but a few.

The full text of the BBLF Statement on Education you can read here.